I have heard of people getting Malaria, but didn't know them personally.in fact Bruce Bryden a Kruger Park ranger for many years and author of a wonderful book, succumbed to it years after leaving the park and while on a fishing trip in Mozambique.There is a lot of great info and advice Malaria and another long topic Here

Unfortunately for me I got it twice as a kid. 1991 and 1999. Both times was due to a visit to our favourite park. Both times we used the prescribed meds and both times the doctors battled to diagnose malaria first time round. The first time round I was even wrongfully treated for something else. Both times resulted in prolonged hospitalisation. Both times was equally horrible. That said, in the past 14 years we still go to Kruger every chance we get. We do however take exceptional precaution. I tend to overuse every repellent possible, smoking up a storm with coils outside and I make sure to 'cover up' from 4pm to 9am. So far so good. But as in the previous posts said, when you've been in a malaria area and feel even slightly ill, go to the docter tell them and hopefully they diagnose it correctly first time round.

Lepardfan that must have been aweful? I have my own opinions about taking those meds. I'm no medical doctor and therefore won't raise my opinion on that. Carol g, as long as you stick to the few basic known precautions you'll be fine. I'm no expert but I know those mozzies buzz silently around before sunset until a bit after sun rise. Lower joints are a preferred spot for them, hence the cover up rule, and they don't like citronella oil, I tent to apply this liberally lol. I was also told not to wear or use any fragrances based products, even shampoo. Luckily there are tons of 'plain' versions of everything.

Thanks for the responsesI am aware of Bruce Bryden, read his magical book Was just wondering of people like myself visiting the parkIs anyone aware of the DDT spraying in KNP?Heard they started spraying around 2006, if it is true anyone that has contracted after that?

If You Spend Your Life Fearing The Storm, You Will Never Enjoy The Sunshine

We put on long pants and long sleeve t shirts after 4pm and we spray our ankles, arms necks with anti mozzie spray, we sleep with a fan on, we also burn large sandalwood sticks (I purchased them from a 4X4/outdoor dealer) outside our accommodation as soon as the sun starts setting, so far so good..........

I have not contracted Malaria, but I have developed tick bite fever after a recent visit.

I tend to have reactions to the medications, so I rather use repellants and large doses of Vitamin B. Thiamine (Vitamin B something) has been recommended as an extra precaution.

I go for a blood test immediately, if I start to develop flu like symptoms following a trip.

We did have one nasty scare at Tambotie. My daughter left the tent door wide open when we went for a drive. When we arrived back the room was thick with mozzies. We tried our best to get rid of the mozzies, but I did get quite badly eaten during the night.

I was particularly vigilant after that trip, but we were both fine.

The bird doesn't sing because it has answers, it sings because it has a song.

We had a fantastic time in KNP in May 2010 - caravaned at Shingwedzi and Tsendze. Took all the usual precautions but nevertheless I came down with Malaria two weeks after we returned home. Despite telling the doctor/s that I had recently returned from a Malaria area I was treated for everything else. It took them 3 weeks before one of them woke up and took tests for Malaria - needless to say they were positive! 4 days later I was finally discharged from hospital...........When we arrived at Tsendze, Rodgers told us that Eleena had just been discharged from hospital in Phalaborwa having been admitted with Malaria. So suspect that it was there where I got bitten! KNP staff cannot take any medication and rely solely on precautions such as sprays; candles; covering up etc. and the fact that relatively few of them get Malaria proves that, for those who have nasty reactions to the medication, the precautions mentioned in previous posts do work most of the time.

F

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."Benjamin Franklin

Glad I could enlighten you on that matter Carol g. Mosquitoes are attracted to the sweetness in most scents.

Tent dweller, thanks for the sandalwood sticks, environmentally friendlier than the green stuff I light up.

PNF it is shocking that in this day and age some doctors still wait too long to test for malaria. When I develop even a fever I go for tests, sometimes even twice as on many occasions people are only diagnosed with malaria after the third round of blood tests. I no longer use the medication, I develop nasty reactions to it, but I do take all the other precautions there is.

I know of one person that contracted malaria in KNP that manifested as the cerebral form, and unfortunately died.

My family and I don't take meds , but make sure we cover up etc.

It is a bit of a number game with the chances decreasing dramatically the less infected people there are close by. So you are less likely to contract malaria in an isolated camp, than for example in the areas to the west of KNP. The biology is also very interesting, as the female anopheles needs to have fed 3 times (and the first time on an infected individual) laid eggs 3 times, before she is infectious , so at least 12 days old. By this stage they apparently have such damaged wings that they can hardly fly!

I think the biggest problem is poor diagnosis. If you have any flu like symptoms after visiting a malaria area, INSIST on a malaria test. and another one very soon if the symptoms don't clear. Probably also better to go to a travel doctor.

Spring is sprung, Der grass is riz, I wonder where dem boidies is? Der boids is on der wing, Ain't dat absoid? Der wings is on de boid!